Cumberland River, Clarksville

Hey, I am new to the Clarksville Area. New to the crappie fishing in this area as well. I am in the Army but grew up fishing around and south of Atlanta.
I tried the Cumberland River yesterday and struck out. Caught one very small crappie and was hung up most of the time trying to get to that one small one. I tried fishing up the Red River all the way to the Rail Road tracks. I tried trolling, fished cover, and did some drop off jigging. I saw a lot of fish on the fish finder but when I did hook up they where only shell crackers. I also fished up by the new Marina around the rocks.
I only fished with jigs. Tried Maribou and plastic grubs and tubes.

I would love some suggestions on where to hook up with some slabs!

Welcome to GEORGIA.

I dont live in Ga anymore but ill be sitting on lake jackson next weekend with my fater and my best friend who is about to get married!

I been fishing Lake Barkley/Cumberland River around Dover since I retired in 2001. Was a hard-core bass chaser for 40 years, but these speckled fish have ruined me. Send me a PM and I will give you info to jump start your efforts.

You are in the right place. You live within a very close driving distance of some of the best Bass, and Crappie fishing in the south.


Kentucky Lake is 160,000 acres of water, and it's only about 40 miles or so west of you.

Barkley Lake is 57,000 acres and it's just west of Clarksville, TN.

Both lakes combine for over 220,000 acres of water.


There is also over 350,000 acres of public hunting land in this area- LBL, Fort Campbell, Lake Barkley WMA, Cross Creeks NWR, TN NWR, etc.


My advice would be to fish the ledges this time of year. I caught several really good crappie last week on some underwater ledges on KY Lake.


Here are some links you may enjoy.

Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and Land Between the Lakes
Kentucky Lake / Lake Barkley Fishing

Kentucky Vacations at Kentucky Lake & Lake Barkley

Kentucky Lake Fishing, Lake Barkley Fishing

Kentucky Lake Hunting, Lake Barkley Hunting, Land Between the Lakes Hunting

ky lake record crappie - Google Search

Try a place called Port Royal on the Red River, the Sulpher fork enters right there, and the hole above the junction has a huge long tree laying down and has a huge stump. Caught several nice 12 to 14 inch crappie there, even in January. Also, instead of going up to the train tracks, you should have went left, up the west fork Red. There are a few holes up there that hold some really nice slab crappies, big white bass, sauger and even trout are stocked in there from Fort Campbell, so you may get a bonus surprise fish. The best hole up there is kind of close to where youll see the power lines going across. I stood there one day and caught about 40 crappie

Creekman, way to go looking through older post and helping him on info up your way. Makes for a great group of members. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Randy,
give me a holler. I'm about to be retired come the 1st and will be doing a lot more crappie fishing in the near future. I've been fishing the Dover area off and on for the last 30+ years. I'm mostly a spring time fisher but looking to try it yr round now.

Wouldn't complain about shellcrackers....mighty fine eating:)

I need to get in with you guys. I live in Clarksville and catch lots of Crappie at Priest and Kentucky Lake, but I get tired of driving that far.

I live in Clarksville to would like to also unlock the secret to this end of Barkley to. Have never done any good at the mouth of west fork. But have always herd of people catching them there.

I live on the river in Clarksville when the water starts to warm up a little bit you can start catching crappie in the creeks around lock b and the west fork and red river also, catch them deep under fallen trees and drop offs on mepps inline spinners and bleeding bait series crank baits. Hope this helps anyone fishing in the area.

What creeks are around Lock B? Are you referring to Bartons Creek? Where is West Fork?

First when you head up the red river off the Cumberland the first big creek you come to on the left that is West Fork Creek great place to stripe and Crappie fish. Im not sure the name of the creeks around lock b i just fish all of them i know Mcadoo is a pretty good one if you get back in there far enough the stripe bite is real good also.

I live on west side of dover and would love to get after them. Have plenty of gear and a nice boat to chase them in if you still have a little extra time.

I live in dover and would be thrilled to spend some time making fishing buds. I have everything we need. Can take my boat or yours